From the moment João Fonseca first struck the ball, his style has clearly shown power – but that burst sometimes yields mixed results on the road to the top.
«I was the kid who crushed the ball»
– Fonseca
Such fearless, passionate, and almost uncontrollable manner of play he carries into professional tennis: his sharp forehand often brings the brightest moments on the court and relentlessly underscores his aggressive style.
Although many young players will easily contend with Fonseca for raw power, for the 19-year-old Brazilian the forehand remains his main weapon. This season he has won two ATP Tour titles, notably Basel.
In the Basel final, Fonseca registered 29 points won, defeating Spanish Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and the average speed of his forehand was about 130 km/h – according to the tournament data this is well above the averages of top players, which usually range from 120–125 km/h.
«I think my coach was the first to say: “Keep going with this aggression,”
– Fonseca
«Keep going like that, but at the same time work on being more consistent.»
– Fonseca
The Basel victory made Fonseca one of the cheapest ATP 500 tournament winners since the format was introduced in 2009 and the youngest winner of the tournament since 1989.
Turning Point and Prospects
Although Fonseca is still a teenager, he has significant potential for further development – his dynamic power could become even more threatening with improvements in technique and tactics. Some experts believe he has a chance to enter the top players of the year and challenge leaders such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who this year were among the main topics in men’s tennis.
«The Brazilian Blaster (Fonseca) is a generational talent, as I said two years ago, and someday he will be beside Italian Fire (Sinner) and Spanish Wizard (Alcaraz)»
– Rick Macci
After winning last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals – the competition for the best players under 20 – Fonseca drew the attention of the global tennis community. At the start of the new season he also drew attention, notably by defeating the ninth-ranked Andrey Rublev in a straight-sets victory.
Soon he won the Argentina Open, becoming one of the youngest players from South America to reach the top in the Open Era. Fonseca’s progress wasn’t linear – he didn’t reach the semifinals in the year’s last major tournaments, but Basel’s victory confirmed his explosive potential. The ranking rose to No. 28, and he has a clear vision for his goals for the next season.
«I consider one of my goals to be seeded, top-32 at a Grand Slam tournament»
– Fonseca
To reach that level, Fonseca since childhood has been building a strong bond with tennis. At first it was not easy for him to adapt to tournament competition, but over time he learned to focus on the game and curb his off-court impulses.
Among other milestones on his path are watching Novak Djokovic’s finals and meetings with Roger Federer, which added motivation and inspiration. “He is my idol; he inspires me. I see him as a person, not a legend, and that is important for my own path,” Fonseca said after that meeting.
«He is my idol; he inspires me. I see him as a person, not a legend, and that is important for my own path»
– Fonseca
Partnership with On – one of the sponsors connected with Federer – further reinforces his progress. Although he is only 16, his career already looks like the path of a future global tennis star. In childhood Fonseca loved football, but a long-term injury changed his direction – “I was at an average level in football, but when I chose tennis, everything changed,” he recalls. Now he continues to refine his technique, garner support worldwide, and inspire new generations of sports fans.
With each tournament Fonseca gains confidence and mastery – a combination of aggression with discipline helps him to shape a new level of world tennis. He isn’t just rising in the rankings; he dreams of leaving a meaningful mark in the history of sport, continuing to compete with the best and developing a unique blend of power and endurance.